Bali: Calling Covid pandemic and Ukraine conflict a “double whammy” for the poor, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday stressed on returning to the path of ceasefire and diplomacy to resolve the Russia Ukraine conflict.
“Climate change, the Covid pandemic, the developments in Ukraine, and the global problems associated with it — All these together have caused ‘havoc’ in the world.
“Global supply chains are in ruins. There is a crisis of essentials, essential goods all over the world,” the Prime Minister said.
Addressing the first session of the G-20 Summit here in Indonesia on Food and Energy Security, Modi said: “The challenge for the poor citizens of every country is more severe.
“Everyday life was already a struggle for them. They do not have the financial capacity to deal with the double whammy,” he added.
The Prime Minister said that we should also not hesitate to acknowledge that multilateral institutions such as the UN have been unsuccessful on these issues.
Modi said that the world has greater expectations from the G-20 and the relevance of our group has become more significant since “We have all failed to make suitable reforms…”
“I have repeatedly said that we have to find a way to return to the path of ceasefire and diplomacy in Ukraine,” the Prime Minister stressed.
“Over the past century, the World War II wreaked havoc across the globe. After that, the leaders of that time made a serious effort to take the path of peace.
“Now it’s our turn. The onus of creating a new world order for the post-Covid period lies on our shoulders,” he added.
Modi said that the need of the hour is to show concrete and collective resolve to ensure peace, harmony and security in the world.
The Prime Minister expressed hope that the G20 Summit will be able to convey a strong message of peace to the world.
He said that India ensured food security of its 1.3 billion citizens during the pandemic.
At the same time, food grains were also supplied to many countries in need, he added.
Modi said that the current shortage of fertilizers in terms of food security is also a huge crisis.
“Today’s fertilizer shortage is tomorrow’s food crisis, for which the world will not have a solution. We should build mutual agreement to maintain the supply chain of both manure and food grains stable and assured,” he added.
The Prime Minister informed about India’s efforts for sustainable food security.
“We are promoting natural farming, and re-popularising nutritious and traditional foodgrains like millets. Millets can also solve global malnutrition and hunger. We all must celebrate the International Year of Millets with great enthusiasm next year,” he said.
He said that India’s energy-security is also important for global growth as it is the world’s fastest growing economy.
“We must not promote any restrictions on the supply of energy and stability in the energy market should be ensured,” he added.
He said that India is committed to clean energy and environment and by 2030, half of India’s electricity will be generated from renewable sources.
Time-bound and affordable finance and sustainable supply of technology to developing countries is essential for inclusive energy transition, he added.
